SEATTLE, WA – Washington State Convention Center (WSCC) executives, joined by state, county and city officials, hospitality leaders and members of the community, gathered at the construction site of the WSCC’s additional facility, Summit, for the official groundbreaking ceremony today.

The $1.7 billion undertaking adds more than 250,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space and provides a $93 million community benefits package drastically improving pedestrian and transit infrastructure, refurbishing open space sites and creating affordable housing opportunities in the region. The project will also link and strengthen neighborhoods divided by previous constructions, and will be funded solely by leaders opting to issue a bond and finance the project with existing taxes garnered from hotel room occupancy charge, without additional city, county or state taxes. Summit seeks to build upon the strong growth and demand for Seattle’s convention business.

When finished, it’s expected to drive more than 400,000 new conventioneers to the city and generate more than $19 million in tax revenue each year by bringing demand year-round to hotels and various other attractions.”Tourism and business travel are essential, growing components of our regional economy, and this expansion – a long time coming – will create jobs and business activity for decades to come,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. Construction of the facility will result in as many as 6,000 union positions during the next three years and after its opening, Summit is estimated to create 3,900 new, permanent jobs across the region.